Training on adequate use of opioid analgesics in West and Central Africa: a neglected step on the way to access to essential medicines?

ABSTRACT: Alleviating acute and chronic pain is a moral imperative for health professionals and health systems, and it requires adequate access to and use of essential opioid analgesics. However, this is still a neglected issue in global health, with striking inequalities in opioids availability between high and low- and middle-income countries. Countries most affected by lack of access are those with a fragile political situation and weak regulatory and healthcare systems. The main threats to accessibility, availability and affordability are situated at different levels: legislation and policy, financing, knowledge and cultural behavior, erroneous beliefs, and training and education. Among these threats, the lack of (adequate) training and education seems to be a cross-cutting issue. Exploring the

SUBMITTER: Frau S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8655326 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature